Parachute pack and chair



Nov. 12, 1935. s. SWITLIK'J 7 2,020,746

PAR ACHUTE PACK AND CHAIR Filed Feb. 23,1932 5 SheetsSheet 1 Nov. 12, 1935.

S. SWITLIK PARACHUTE PACK AND CHAIR Filed Feb. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 illii INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1935. s. SWITLIK 2,020,746

PARACHUI'E PACK AND CHAIR Filed Feb. 23, 1932 S-Sheets-Sheet 4 Stanley witl iii,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1935. s. SWITLIK 2,020,746

PARACHUTE PACK AND CHAIR Filed Feb. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 uIun MIfiE I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved parachute pack and chair for aircrafts, and while the same may be used on army and navy aircrafts, it is especially adapted for use on commerciai aircrafts.

The invention for its purpose to provide a parachute pack, which, due to its being at all times carried by the chair is easily and conveniently available for use by the passenger, though it is obvious that the passenger can if so desired leave the chair atwill with the harness and the pad or upholstery applied to the passenger's body, or the harness and the pack may be left applied to the chair, it being also obvious that the passenger can leave the chair with the harness padding as well as the parachute pack applied to the body. These facts make it possible that the. parachute pack is always convenient and easily accessible.

The inventicn has for another purpose, a type of parachute pack chair, whereby the interior of the aircraft body or fuselage can be easily and very quickly cleared of passengers, in case of emergency. I

For instance, at present, in case of an emergency the backs of the chairs on the opposite sides of the aisle afford obstruction to the passengers in passing down the aisle toward the exit, on account of their packs either worn on their backs or their buttocks, portions of the parachute packs projecting from the sides of the wearer, as well as the harness contacting with the backs of the chairs. on account of these contingencies substantial time is required to clear the interior of the craft, especially commercial aircrafts where there are a number of passengers. 1

His therefore another purpose of the invention to provide in a parachute pack chair, means carried by the parachute pack frame, whether the latter is carried by the back orthe buttocks,

preferably the former, for detachable connection to the chair, so that the passenger with the pack and harness attached can leave the chair and proceed toward the exit with no obstructions from. either side of the aisle, especially when all the passengers have arisen from the chairs, due to the fact that only the seats and the legs of the chair remain, and it is possible for the passengers to either walk through the aisle or from one chair seat to the other.

Another purpose is to provide in a contrivance of this kind, means where the harness for the parachute pack is worn bythe passenger at all times enabling the passenger to leave the chair at will the parachute pack remaining as a part of and detachably connected to and constituting the back of the chair, and in this instance it is possible for the passenger to return at any time to tie-3 chair and reconnect the harness to the 5 parachute pack by means of snap hooks and rings. In this case, that is to say where the harness is detachably connected to the parachute pack, a relatively thin pad is positioned between the harness and the body of the wearer or passenger, though it is possible for a thicker pad to be used in lieu of the relatively thin one.

In such instances where the harness is permanently attached to the frame of the parachute pack, said frame being detachably connected to the chair and constituting a back thereof, a relatively thick pad is employed adjacent the seat and the back of the passenger, though it is obvious that a relatively thin pad can be used in this instance, if so desired.

A further purpose is to provide in a contrivance of this kind a chair seat with its four legs permanently attached to the floor of the interior of the aircraft body or fuselage, including a gravity collapsible frame, said 001- lapsible frame including pivoted rods for telescopical'engagementin sockets or tubular members carried by the frame of the parachute pack, so that when the passenger starts to rise from the chair, the frame with its rods tilt forward and slidably disconnect from the sockets or tubular elements, so that when the rods are completely detached the frames will collapse by gravity forwardly and toward the floor, and therefore leave no obstructions in the path of the passenger in case the passenger desires to step from one chair seat to another in passing toward the exit.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made inthe construction of the appliance according to circumstances. r

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figurel is a view in perspective of the improved aircraft cabin chair showing the pack as applied.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the pack and the pad or upholstery applied as well as the harness.

Figure 3' is a view in front elevation showing the pad or upholstery removed.

Figureui is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the parachute pack, showing one of the sockets or tubular members ,for receiving one of the rods of the gravity collapsible frame.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of Figure 3. I

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line '|1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation showing a plurality of chair seats with the packs detached.

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation showing the parachute pack applied and illustrating the collapsible frame rigid, also illustrating the harness, and particularly a thin pad.

Referring to the drawings l identifies the floor of the interior of an aircraft body or fuselage and 2 a chair, the legs 3 of which are permanently attached to the floor in any well known manner. Carried by the seat of the chair at opposite sides are racks 4, which in some instances may be of arcuate shape, and pivoted at 5 to the chair is a collapsible frame. The rods 6 which merge from the pivots of the frame have collars or shoulders I, and the portions above the collars or shoulders telescope into sockets or tubular elements 8,'which are carried by the carrying frame 9, which carries and supports the parachute pack and its covering ID. The usual rip cord ll engages about the covering of the pack and clinches it to the frame 9 of the pack. The usual pull cord l2 having a handle I3 passes through a flexible tubular cable I4 and is connected in a well known manner to the rip pin IS.

The handle of the pull cord is carried in a pocket IS on one of the breast straps of the parachute harnessl1, there being an arm l8 projecting from the handle and engaged in a smaller pocket I9 to steady the handle in place.

In certain instances the shoulder straps of the harness 11 pass under the covering of the parachute pack and are connected in the usual manner to the parachute, so that when the rip cord is released, the covering of the pack detaches and the parachute is allowed to spring open and take the air, and in this instance the frame of the parachute pack is allowed to leave and drop to the ground.

In other instances the shoulder straps of the harness have snap hooks 20., which engage in rings 2| carried by the straps 22 which are in turn connected to the shroud cords of the parachute. The rings protrude a relatively short distance beyond the covering of the pack, so that the snap hooks carried by the harness can be connected to or disconnected from the rings at any time, permitting the passenger to leave the chair at will, leaving the parachute pack as constituting the back of the chair.

In such an instance the passenger is allowed to leave the chair at any time, and then in case of emergency it is possible for the passenger to hurry back to the chair and reconnect the snap hooks to the rings, and then rise and automatically disconnect the parachute pack from the gravity collapsible frame, by sliding the sockets or tubular elements from the rods. As soon as the sockets are fully and completely disconnected from the rods the gravity collapsible frame tilts forwardly toward and in close position to the floor, leaving the seat of the chair unobstructed, therefore allowing the passenger to step from one chair to aootherin merging toward the exit of the aircraft.

In cases where the harness while being worn by the passenger is a permanent part of thepack, that is to say the straps of the harness pass I under the cover of the pack and are connected to the cords of the parachute, the passenger remains in the seat at all times, provided it is desired to keep the harness on the body of the passenger. In this case should the passenger desire to leave the seat and still carry the harness it is necessary that the pack be carried also, and should the passenger leave the seat under such circumstances the rods are detachably connected from the sockets or tubular elements. Should I the passenger desire to resume his seat and still desire to have a back rest it would be necessary to'reengage the rods of the gravity collapsible frame in the sockets or tubular elements.

Also it is obvious thatwhere the harness has permanent connection with the cords of the parachute under the cover of the pack, and the passenger desires to leave a. seat, it is possible to uniasten the breast straps of the harness by disconnecting the snap hooks 23 from the rings 25 24, and subsequently disconnect the snap hooks 25 of the leg straps from the rings 26 of certain other leg straps, in which case the passenger can leave his seat unhampered either by the harness or the pack. 4

The carrying frame 9 includes angularly disposed rods or arms 28, which in certain of the figures of the drawings are rigid relative to the rods 6, while in certain other of the figures these angularly disposed rods 28 are pivoted at 29 to the rods 5. The lower ends of the rods 24 are connected by a transverse rod. 30. The rod 30 is adapted to engage with the teeth of the racks 4 for retaining the frame! in such position as to support the parachute pack in position as the back of the chair. In the cases where the rods 28 are rigid relative to the rods 6 the racks each have a notch, in which case the frame 8 has but one position when supporting the parachute pack. However where the rods 20 are pivoted to the rods 6 the racks 4 have a plurality of teeth, enabling the frame 8 to be adjusted in different positions.

It is to be understood that this improved contrivance is adapted and operable upon a plurality so of aircraft cabin chairs, so that when the packs are detached, the frames 8 of all the chairs may collapse by gravity toward and in close position to the floor of the cabin, thereby leaving the seats of all the chairs free and unobstructed.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. An aircraft cabin chair as set forth, comprising a chair seat operatively supported on the floor of the'cabin, a parachute pack, and a grav- 00 ity collapsible frame carried by the chair seat and provided with means operatively'supporting and detachably connected to the pack for supporting the latter as a chair back, whereby it automatically detaches from the" chair seat as the occupant arises. '6-

2. An aircraft cabin chair, comprising a chair seat operatively supported on the floor of the cabin, a parachute pack provided with sockets, a collapsible frame provided with means to remov- 7o ably enter said sockets to support the parachute pack as a chair back, said frame being pivotally supported on. the chair seat, whereby it may gravitate out of the way when said means withdraw from the sockets, and means for holding."

chute pack as a chair back, and means for retaining the collapsible frame in a substantially upright position.

4. In an aircraft cabin chair, a chair seat operatively supported on the floor of the cabin, a

frame operatively supported on the seat, a parachute pack separably attached and supported by the frame, said frame being collapsible by gravity when. the pack is separated therefrom, and

means for holding the frame in a substantially upright position suporting the pack as the back of the chair.

5. In an aircraft cabin chair, achair seat supported on the door of the cabin, a frame operatlvely supported on the seat, a parachute pack separahly attached and supported by the frame,

atively supported on the seat, a parachute pack separably attached and supported by the frame, said frame being collapsible by gravity when the pack is separated therefrom, and means for holding the frame in a substantially upright peition supporting the pack as the back of the chair, and a parachute harness separably attached to the pack, and an upholstery padding separably attached to the pack.

'7. in a parachute equipment for aircraft cabins, a chair seat, a complete parachute comprising a pack constituting a unitary sole back to the chair seat, a forward floating frame operatively supported on the chair seat, and separable connections between parts of the frame and the pack back, whereby forward movement of the occupant with the pack attached may be permitted and said connections separated.

8. In a parachute equipment for aircraft cabins, the combination with a chair seat, of a pack including a parachute and container with at-. taching means for the occupant, the pack constituting the sole back of the chair, forward floating elements operatively supported on the chair seat and having separable connections with the sides of the pack, whereby upon forward movement said connections are separated. v

9. In a parachute equipment for aircraft cabins, a chair seat, a pack including a parachute. and container constituting the sole back of the seat and provided with attaching equipment for the occupant, and unrestricted separable means connecting the pack and the seat, the construction and arrangement of said separable means being such as to permit the occupant to move forward and separation to occur between the seat and the back automatically upon egress from the chair.

10. In a parachute equipment for aircraft cab-'- ins, a chair seat, a pack including a parachute and container constituting the sole back for the seat and provided with attaching equipment for the occupant, and separable means connecting the pack and the seat, said separable means including forwardly movable elements to facilitate parting of the separable means automatically upon forward and upward movement of the occupant from the chain 11. In a parachute equipment for aircraft cabins, a chair including a seat, a pack including a parachute and container constituting the sole .back of said chair and provided with attaching equipment for the occupant, and separable means connecting the pack and the chair seat and au-- tomatically released upon rising of the occupant leaving the space above the chair seat unobstructed.

12. In a parachute equipment for aircraft STANLEY 5 

